What does no one tell you about retirement communities?

If you’re thinking about the benefits of living in a retirement community, it’s a good idea to research the full picture.

Here, we discuss aspects of retirement communities people might not tell you about.

This article will update you on:

• What a retirement community is and how they operate.
• 5 things you might not know about retirement communities.
• How you can find the perfect retirement community to suit your lifestyle.

What is a retirement community?

The definition of a retirement community is a residential community or complex specifically designed for older people who can care for themselves and who may or may not be looking for support packages at the present time.

Integrated retirement communities offer care or support packages alongside retirement community living which residents can access at any given point. This is a relatively new phenomenon in retirement community provision, but one that is proving increasingly popular.

There are fewer older people living in integrated retirement communities compared to the more established retirement villages at the present time, but industry figures predict the percentage will grow over the next few years.

Some retirement communities are also either offering, or considering whether they should offer, some care support to residents in order to deliver a full spectrum living experience.

How does a retirement community work?

As the retirement community sector has grown and become more established in the UK, the variety and broad range of what’s on offer has increased exponentially.

It’s now very easy for the over 55s and over 65s to search and select a retirement community that provides all or most of what would appear on their priority checklist.

Each retirement community will offer individual aspects that are personalised for their residents. That being said, many include cafes, restaurants, gyms and leisure facilities and social activities for residents to enjoy as little or as much as they please.

There’s also quite a diverse scale in terms of the cost and luxury levels involved in retirement communities. Potential residents are generally now able to pick and choose, to a certain extent, their ideal price point and the facilities they would most like to be integrated into their lifestyle.

If a potential resident is researching luxury retirement communities for example, they may be interested in a location such as Wildernesse House in Sevenoaks in Kent. This sumptuous retirement living complex features a range of one and two bedroom apartments as well as 2 bedroom houses, accentuated with bespoke design.

Or perhaps in London, they’d be looking for a 1,2, or 3 bedroom Riverstone retirement apartment at Coe House in Kensington where they could enjoy communal facilities like the swimming pool, massage and therapy rooms, plus a gym with regular exercise classes.

Many seniors want to live in an active retirement community and be looking for a development that has plenty of social and leisure pursuits on offer. One such example is Richmond Villages Cheltenham which promotes a proactive lifestyle for residents, including a wellness spa and library. In fact, Richmond Villages have nine retirement developments based mainly in middle England which are available to both own or rent.

It’s good to note that there are a variety of purchase and rental options available in most retirement communities. Many too offer part-rental and part-purchase homes with flexible tenancy options.

Over 65s looking to find their ideal retirement community may want to visit potential choices to discover how they are run and what life is like for residents from day to day.

5 things no one tells you about retirement communities

Unless you’re an expert on retirement living, it can be tricky to know what to expect from a retirement community and the things you should be looking for if you want to move into one.

Here are 5 key aspects you might not be aware of when it comes to UK retirement community living.

Funding and costs

Planning and preparing for living costs, now and in the future, is a very important topic for many over 65s. Whilst retirement communities are usually marketed to down-sizers who fund the purchase from the sale of a larger property, the retirement community sector now offers a greater range of options that can help seniors in different situations and with different financial needs to move in.

Traditionally retirement villages were only available through private leasehold purchase, but there are now a growing number that offer private rental too.

Some retirement living operators allow you to part-rent and part-buy your retirement home. These varying options give seniors the chance to find the right property for their lifestyle while also suiting their budget and financial situation.

With purchase options, there may be a range of incentives for potential residents, such as support with stamp duty, legal fees or part-exchange with your existing property. 

One of the advantages of the rental option, when it comes to retirement living, is that there are no stamp duty implications. And look out for the all-inclusive rental deals that some retirement communities offer. Check what is included in the price. Some retirement communities include meals, utility bills and/or housekeeping services in the rental price.

If you’re considering any of these options, it’s paramount that you ask about any extra service charges. Knowing the whole financial picture is vital for the management of your finances over the long term. Ask the operators of the retirement community that you’re interested in if there are any extra charges, such as management fees or service charges.

Service charges and management fees exist so that the retirement community can be maintained to the standard you would expect. If there are lots of leisure facilities on site and well-pruned gardens, these are usually looked after through the money acquired through management fees.

In the retirement living section of the Autumna directory, many of the retirement community listings will set out exactly what is included and what’s not included in the price they quote.

You should also ask about ‘exit fees’ or ‘deferred management fees’ which may also be applicable in the retirement community of your choice. This fee can be part of your contract and it’s a payment you might be asked to pay when your property is sold.

The way an exit fee is usually explained is that it covers the resident’s contribution to the building of the retirement community in the first place. So, for example, when you buy your retirement property, you only pay for the cost of the building you live in. However, the exit fee covers the cost of building the other facilities in the retirement village – for example the swimming pool or health spa – which you, of course, enjoy the benefit of throughout your stay in the village. Talk to your solicitor or legal representative about whether this charge will apply to you.

Many retirement living communities like McCarthy Stone offer a part-exchange option for your current property. Adlington Retirement Living also works with a dedicated partner to offer a part exchange service and currently has a special offer available at four of its retirement communities. Terms and conditions apply, but Adlington is offering 3% off your apartment purchase price* if you part exchange your home for a brand-new one at The Sidings in Lytham, Lancashire, The Spindles in Menston, West Yorkshire, The Woodlands in Heaton Mersey, Stockport and The Folds  in Romiley, Stockport.

The part-exchange option can remove a great deal of stress and organisation from your move, with plenty of the detail and moving processes done for you. Some companies such as the home buyers Spring may also allow you to access your old home for up to two weeks after the sale so you can move at your pace.

Social side of retirement communities

Some seniors like to be independent and curate their own interests, hobbies and free time. Others like to get involved in the community aspect of retirement living and prefer to invest time in the range of activities on offer in their particular development.

Whether there are dance or music classes, history or art clubs, hairdressers or film nights on offer, there’s usually a huge collection of leisure activities for people to enjoy or pick and choose as they feel appropriate.

In this Age UK video, seniors discuss what wellbeing and leisure pastimes they enjoy that keep them motivated and relishing life.

Retirement communities are often at pains to reassure residents and potential residents that it’s their right to choose to do whatever they want and while there is a culture of positivity around activity, many retirement villages promote freedom of independence for their residents.

Care and support possibilities

It’s true to say that not everyone who may want to choose a home in a retirement community is interested in care and support at the present time. However, having a safety net available for the future can be a desirable prospect.

There are some retirement communities that offer the potential for care further along the line and others that don’t have that facility for their residents.

An essential question to ask if you’re looking into the possibilities of retirement community living is around what can be offered to residents in terms of support or health care.

As previously mentioned, integrated retirement communities offer the flexibility of retirement community living alongside care packages. So, if you want to have that option waiting for you when you need it, focusing on integrated retirement communities can be a sensible idea. Look out for the ARCO badge when you’re browsing for retirement communities on Autumna. All ARCO members offer integrated retirement communities.

Some retirement communities, like Cotswold Gate in Oxfordshire and Anna Court in Rutland come with a care home on site already. This is the absolute 'belt-and-braces' of future-proofing when considering a move into a retirement property. To find other retirement developments with care homes on site simply use the 'Additional filters' button in your Autumna search.

What you really shouldn’t do is leave your move to a retirement village too late. Debbie Harris, the founder of Autumna, explains more in this video short video.

Food and dining

With every retirement community being slightly different, it’s hard to paint a picture of retirement community dining as one distinctive category. In your retirement community apartment, it’s likely there will be a full kitchen for you to cook and serve all your meals as desired.

However, a large amount of retirement communities, especially those in more rural areas, have cafes or restaurants on site that are often run by experienced chefs who produce food to suit the residents’ tastebuds.

Retirement communities in more urban locations usually have easy access to restaurants, bars and cafes within the local area so that residents can enjoy variety, quality and diversity as part of their lifestyle.

With Autumna you can discover what types of dining facilities are available at any retirement community you’re interested in.

First of all, click on the Autumna search tool to explore local retirement communities or those in another area. Then, search for a location, specific retirement community or provider and the results will look like this one for Debden Grange Retirement Village in Essex:

By scrolling through the profile you can discover all about the wellbeing, leisure, fitness and social amenities provided in your chosen community, like this:

Sophisticated safety

Everyone loves to feel free to do what they want in their own home. In addition, most seniors also like to feel secure. Countless retirement communities provide substantial levels of safety and security without inhibiting the residents’ independence.

You will regularly find the following in many modern retirement communities:

• Secure main door entry
• Staffed reception
• Fire and smoke detectors in individual and communal areas
• Intruder alarms
• Direct care support lines to staff
• Window security

Much of this security equipment exists without residents even giving them a second thought, but many seniors find these tools enable them to feel happy and safe without any stress or restrictions on their freedom.

Like any home, it’s vital for potential residents or their loved ones to ask questions about safety and security when looking around or researching a future choice of retirement community.

How do I find a retirement community near me?

Growing numbers of people are using Autumna's online directory to discover their best options for later life.

If you need some help looking for a retirement community that suits you, why not complete this short form? The Autumna advice line team will then send you a shortlist of those retirement communities, in your search area, that can help.

If you'd prefer to speak to us, call our Advice Line on 01892 335 330. The line is open seven days a week. (8:30am - 5:30pm Mon-Fri, 10am - 5pm Sat, 10am - 4pm Sun).

Alternatively email us here: info@autumna.co.uk